France, Sept. 19 -- Under mounting pressure from Russian interference, Moldova faces a critical test of its democracy with parliamentary elections on 28 September. RFI spoke to Nicu Popescu, the country's former deputy prime minister and foreign minister, who is running for parliament on the list of the pro-European Action and Solidarity Party.

Popescu served as foreign minister in 2019, then as deputy prime minister and minister for foreign affairs between 2021 and 2024, when he resigned citing personal reasons.

He is now co-director of the European Security Programme and distinguished policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, as well as an associate professor at Sciences Po Paris.

In July, he announced that he would...